A DECLARATION OF The bloody and unchriſtian acting of WILLIAM STAR, and JOHN TAYLOR OF WALTON, VVith divers men in womens apparell, in oppoſition to thoſe that dig upon George-hill in Surrey, &c.

UPon the 11. day of June 1649. foure men only being fitting and preparing the ground for a winter ſeaſon, upon that Common called George-hill, there came to them, William Starr of Wal­ton, and Iohn Taylor, two free-holders, being on horſe­back, having at their heels ſome men in womens appa­rell on foot, with every one a ſtaffe or club, and as ſoon as they came to the diggers, would not ſpeak like men, but like bruit beaſts that have no underſtanding, they fell furiouſly upon them, beating and ſtriking thoſe foure naked men, beating them to the ground, breaking2 their heads, and ſore bruiſing their bodies, whereof one is ſo ſore bruiſed, that it is feared he will not eſcape with life.

Theſe foure men all the time were quiet and patient, willing and reſolving to deliver up their lives unto their Creator at that time, knowing no other, but that the o­thers purpoſe was to murder; and it is believed, when thoſe furious divells Taylor and Starr went from them, they thought they had been dead, in regard they left them feeble, and weak, and ſore wounded, lying upon the ground, yet after ſome time recovering ſtrength, three were able to riſe and walk, the fourth that is in danger of his life was brought home in a cart, being not able to move: yet very cheerfull all of them in ſpi­rit, not willing to ſeek revenge, but have committed their cauſe to him that judges righteouſly, to whom vengeance belongs, reſolving as ſoon as their bodies are well, to go on in that righteous work: and if the Fa­ther have purpoſed that the life of their bodies muſt be ſacrificed, to juſtifie this cauſe, they find a quiet and contented willingneſſe to ſubmit to his will. One thing may be obſerved to ſet forth the malicious wickedneſſe in Taylor and Star, which is this:

Theſe foure men deſired that they would bring them before their Law to anſwer in juſtification of the work, yet thoſe divells, with the men in womens apparell, would not agree to that, but fell on, beating with their long ſtaves upon their bodies without mercie, a teſti­mony ſufficient that this cauſe of digging is juſt and good, in regard of the furious and bloudy actings of men againſt ſuch as carrie on the work with love and patience, which is a ſtrange thing in a Chriſtian Land,3 and done by ſuch men as are profeſſing Chriſtians; con­ſidering withall, that theſe diggers do only make uſe of the Commons, ſeeing they have paid taxes, and given free-quarter; and therefore by the Law of contract, ought to have freedom therein, as well as the free-hol­ders have freedom in their Incloſures; the diggers de­claring, they will neither meddle with Corn, Cattell, nor incloſure Land, but only in the Commons; and that they are ready to anſwer to all the Laws of the Land as Defendents, but not as Plaintiffs. Surely this fury in the free-holders declares plainly, that they got their Lands, both they and their Fathers, by murder, violence, and theft, and they keep it by the ſame power, in regard they will not ſpeak like men, but fight and devoure like beaſts. Well let the world take notice, that we that do juſtifie this cauſe of digging, have o­beyed the Lord, in ſetting forward this work of endea­vouring to bring the earth into a Community, and we have peace and purpoſes to go on, and we are lively witneſſes, and ſhall be at the day of Judgement, againſt theſe and all others that have and may ſo furiouſly op­poſe us; and rebelliouſly fight againſt the Prince of Peace, the great Saviour that is now ſpreading himſelf in the earth to bring all things into a oneneſſe, and to deliver the Creation from bondage.

Right underſtanding and peace among brethren, is the ſtrength of a Land, ignorance and fury brings ſhame and deſtruction. England is a Land, wherein the Power of the moſt High hath greatly declared his Power, both in caſting down the pride of many mens hearts, and making them ſubject to righteouſneſſe, and in caſt­ing down the bodies of ſome that were proud oppreſ­ſors4 to be as dung to the earth, daſhing one power a­gainſt another, changing times and cuſtomes, and therein trying the ſincerity of many that make a great ſhew of love to him.

Every one that ſeems to prevaile over another, ſaies, God gave him the victory, though his conqueſt be tyranny over his brother, making the King of Righteouſneſſe the Author of ſorrowes, and comfort, not knowing the diſtinction between the power of darkneſſe and the power of light: Victories that are got by the ſword, are but victories of the Murtherer, and the joy of thoſe victories is but the joy of Caine, when he had killed his brother Abel; the Dragon hath fought againſt the Dragon, and one part conquered a­nother, and great joy hath been amongſt the Midia­nites for thoſe victories, and the King of Righteouſ­neſſe hath been a looker on, and ſuffered them to breake each other to pieces, that his power at laſt might come in.

But now O England know this, that thy ſtriving now is not only Dragon againſt Dragon, Beaſt againſt Beaſt, Covetouſneſſe and Pride againſt Covetouſneſſe and Pride, but thou now begin'ſt to fight againſt the Lamb, the Dove, the meek Spirit, the power of love, and wilt not willingly ſuffer that Prince of Peace to have a houſe to dwell in upon earth, (which is humane bodies) but ſeekſt to impriſon, beat, kill, or elſe to with­draw all aſſiſtance of favour from them: Well, thou haſt rejoyced in thy former victories one beaſt over a­nother, and thou haſt had, and may have ſeeming vi­ctories over the Lamb, and may rejoyce; but know, that this ſtone (which is alone) againſt whom thou haſt5 begun to lift up thy heel, ſhall grind thee to powder. Love ſuffers under thy furie, love ſuffers under thy hy­pocriſie, under thy pride, careleſſe, covetous, hard­hearted, ſelf-ſeeking children. Love bears all things patiently, he ſuffers thee to reproach, to fight, to op­poſe, and to rejoyce in doing thoſe things. Love ſe­cretly ſeeks thy preſervation, but thou openly ſeekeſt his deſtruction, and glories like a man that hath put off his armour at every ſeeming ſhew of victory: but the battell between the Dragon and the Lamb is begun in the midſt of thee, and a few years now will let all the world ſee who is ſtrongeſt, love or hatred, freedom or bondage.

Therefore thy battells now are not as they were, for now the Lord, the Prince of Peace comes to ſave thee, and thou fight'ſt againſt him as an enemy, and wilt not be ſaved by him, he calls for Peace, thou cal'ſt for war, he calls to Freedome, thou cal'ſt ſtill for bondage, he ſaith put up thy Sword and live in love, thou ſaiſt draw the Sword againſt all that will live in love. Well, Eng­land take thy courſe, but know for all this thou ſhalt come to Judgement.